Free Pleasure Train by Christelle Mirin Page A

asked quietly. She rested her fingers on his wrist, taking note of the slight shake of his hand.
    “Maybe.” Then he gave her a little grunt. “Don’t you mind all that. What we’re talking about here is you. Not some dried-up old mechanic.” Looking up at her, his lips quivered then broke into what served as a smile for Stu.
    Willow patted his arm. “I’m honored that you care, Stu. I appreciate it.”
    He nodded then looked away, wrapping his fingers around his coffee mug.
    Willow pulled her hand back, sensing she’d better let it go. She didn’t want to upset Stu, and it looked like that’s where the conversation was heading. She wondered vaguely who he had lost. Shaking her head, she turned back to Sue. “I don’t know. Maybe I should think about this a bit deeper.”
    Jack, Josh, and Mikey had been in earlier for their usual breakfast. After agreeing to meet them at their house that afternoon, Willow had walked around at work like an automaton, waiting on customers with her fake smile in place, cleaning up dishes, wiping down counters. It did seem like she’d been in a daze at least the last few days. She thought she knew why, too. The guys had asked her to move in with them. If that wasn’t a commitment, she didn’t know what was. But, the real question that needed to be answered—was Willow ready?
    Every time she thought about it, she got jittery, like she’d drunk four cups of coffee in a row. Was it excitement or nervousness? Fear?
    She wasn’t sure. The guys had given her every reason to agree to their offer. She would live with them for free, have her own room, work if she wanted to even though they guaranteed her she wouldn’t have to. Where was the bad?
    She had less than one more hour to go, and then she was off work, and the guys were going to pick her up today. Willow shook her head and scrubbed at the curved end of the countertop again, putting all her strength into it and keeping her back to the three customers who were having coffee and pie at the main counter. Why was this turning into such a hard decision?
    “Can I get some service over here?” a male voice asked.
    Willow froze in mid-swipe. It can’t be.
    “What can I get for you?” Sue asked from behind Willow.
    “Let’s see what you have.”
    Willow slowly turned around, clutching the cleaning cloth in her hand so tightly her fingers hurt.
    Sitting in the third chair from the left was a ghost from her recent past. Kenny Nichols, her former fiancé, held a menu in his hand while Sue stood on the other side of the counter in front of him, her pad held at the ready. A rush of heat swarmed up Willow’s neck and flushed her face. Why was he here? What possible reason could he have to invade her world? Kenny had no business in Forever. No reason at all to be here. Anger reared its ugly head. She was going to find out right now.
    Willow walked up to stand beside Sue. “Hello.” He hadn’t changed at all. Blond, close-cropped hair parted on the side with wide-set green eyes set in a slightly tanned face. He was a good-looking man, one who would turn most women’s heads. He looked like a solid businessman, one who would be a good catch if you were looking for a husband, a house with a white picket fence, and two point five children. Those things were nice, but they were not for Willow.
    “I’ll have a slice of apple pie and a black coffee,” Kenny said to Sue, closing the menu.
    Sue nodded, gave Willow a strange look, then stepped away from the counter.
    “Hello, Willow. How are you?” Kenny asked, resting his elbows on the counter and giving her one of his trademark smiles.
    “I’m fine. What are you doing here, Kenny?” The heat was beginning to drain from her face, only to be replaced by an icy-cold sensation. “Forever certainly isn’t on any tourist map.”
    “Actually, I came to see you.” He reached for her hand which she had placed on the edge of the counter.
    She quickly pulled her hand out of his reach,